Van Winkle Law Firm unveils program
to pump $100K into arts education

March 19, 2007 — As the Van Winkle Law Firm celebrates its 100th year of service to Western North Carolina, the firm is reaching out to the community that has helped it grow into the largest practice west of Charlotte. Van Winkle has developed an exciting new partnership with the Asheville Art Museum to generate $100,000 for art education programs at schools throughout the region.

The firm will match up to $50,000 in contributions to its new Give 100 campaign, which is raising money for the Museum’s Literacy Through Art program. Through this program, the Museum sends artists into classrooms to work with Western North Carolina children on projects that combine sketching, painting, sculpting and music with reading and writing. As a result, students see better grades and experience increased confidence, building talents that will help them excel as they continue their education and enter the workforce. Give 100 donations will help start a Literacy Through Art program in Henderson County.

“The Asheville Art Museum’s Literacy Through Art program is the perfect match for the firm’s fundraising endeavor because of the long-term positive effect it has on the participants and, thus, our greater community,” said Van Winkle President Philip Smith. “We’re proud to work with the museum to offset decreased government funding and enrich the lives of children who will become leaders of our region.”

In 2006-2007 alone, Literacy Through Art will provide more than 16,500 hours of in-depth programming to 1,575 students in 63 K-5 classrooms throughout Western North Carolina. Deep budget cuts have resulted in several of these classrooms receiving no funding for arts-related programming, while others receive as little as 25 cents per child per semester. Literacy Through Art develops programs that many children otherwise wouldn’t receive.

Elaine Waters, a 4th-grade teacher at Eastfield Elementary School in Marion, said that, among other improvements she’s seen, her students who participate in Literacy Through Art demonstrate a greater attention to details.

“During a writing exercise, one student commented, ‘Creating stories are like drawing winter trees. You have to add the details. You have to turn winter into spring.’”

Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela L. Myers said Literacy Through Art has been providing otherwise unavailable visual and language arts education for 13 years.

“Working with school administrators and teachers in the classrooms and at the Museum, Literacy Through Art develops students' abilities to interpret and understand written and visual language while stimulating their imaginations,” she said.

“We applaud The Van Winkle Law Firm’s recognition of the importance of Literacy Through Art in our community and are excited about expanding into new communities as part of the firm's centennial celebration.”

Donations can be made online or at the Asheville Art Museum.